bottlebay | video, at the end of october

Nothing he didn't have coming! [Bite me, Chara. He also winks in Bigby's general direction.] Don't worry! Your pal, Flowey, is doing just fine!

... Say, Fireheart. Did you vote for mayor of Death Blood Murder Skull Town yet?

[Fireheart backs off to give the nurse space to work - but even though he's addressing Flowey, he's still watching Bigby with a concerned look on his face.]

I- yeah, I voted for Lurantis.

[He very much hasn't been checking the network, offline king that he is.

He pauses.]

....Do we have to call it the whole thing every time?

[ The fact that this all technically started over voting for Umbreon pisses him off even more actually. Also, that wink. Like taunting a dog through a fence while Chansey holds him back with head shake. ]

Fireheart, why are you humoring him after the stunt he pulled?

[ Can we go back to the actual problem here?? Please??? ]

You sure do have to call it the full thing every time! It's a cool name! I would know, I picked it myself!

[... it seems like he's decided the thing that would piss off Bigby most is just completely ignoring him now.]

Lurantis, though? Really showing your Guild loyalty... hee hee. Aren't you afraid of the rumors? [... which he made up himself, mostly. God, this kid sucks.]

[It's very much not a cool name... Fireheart is giving Flowey a mildly frustrated look.]

You're Cheri too, shouldn't you be supporting Lurantis? Ribombee picked her, so he must trust her to do a good job.

[He's glancing between them and... right, he should actually watch Flowey's network post. Hold on... he's pulling out his pearl and watching it through with his tail flicking.

....Okay.]

Why do you care so much about Umbreon winning?

[ He's just glaring right at Flowey despite responding to Fireheart. Bigby will remember this, goat boy. ]

Because he cares more about pissing off that bee than picking someone who actually wants the job.

[ When did this even turn into a discussion about politics. Why is Fireheart not ending this conversation. Is anyone even listening to him. Why does he feel like there's a damn ghost in the room. He's going to rip his ears off. ]

Can we — that doesn't even matter. That brat just gave the entire Bay a damn migraine over this bull— ... mf.

[ Chansey just stuffs another berry in his mouth. Precaution. ]

No one asked you. Eat your berry, old man.

[Well, there's Fireheart's answer for how he pissed off Bigby.]

It's called supporting a cause. Not that you'd know, since the only cause you support is stuffing your stupid face.

Don't you GET IT? Lurantis is just a convenient puppet for Ribombee. You're handing him Death Blood Murder Skull Town on a silver platter.

[Flowey remembers what he said about Fireheart being naive, when he started a huge argument at his birthday party all that time ago. Maybe he just wants to "believe the best in people" or something. Begrudgingly, Flowey admires that about him.

He eases the evil, edgy quality of his voice.]

Fireheart, you've seen it, haven't you? I had to bust my leaves getting people together to build roofs for me and the other Cheri Berries who don't have them before Winter. Meanwhile, Ribombee practically rolls out the red carpet for his favorites like Tenna. He's a shady jerk who doesn't treat us equally at all! [That genuine desire to be understood gives way to frustration.] If he plays favorites with us, there's no doubt he didn't pick Lurantis because she's qualified, but because she's just as shady as him!

Edited (clarity) 2025-11-05 01:22 (UTC)

[Okay, well, he was willing to hear both of them out until Flowey made it super obvious who the problem is here. Ugh, why- they don't even need to be arguing about this!]

Flowey, shut up.

[He lets out a little puff of flame, with those words.]

Ribombee isn't giving anyone special treatment, he's supporting the Pokemon that earn it.

[Ignoring... that Flowey has way more points than Fireheart, and Guilmon is nearly at the top without any special treatment. Listen, this hasn't occurred to him. It just makes sense that he's earned his nice roof and that Ribombee came to see him personally when he woke back up because Fireheart's just a very special boy.]

And Bigby's right, there's no reason to be yelling over the network about it.

[ That second part from Flowey cuts especially deep. He spits out a berry seed to the side — all chewed up and falling apart — before finally pushing himself away from Chansey. She honestly looks like she needs a drink at this point. ]

Kid, you've got some fucking nerve. You wanna talk about supporting a cause, huh? When the only person you clearly give a shit about is yourself? Face it: this is just all to get back at Ribombee for not putting you on a pedestal the moment you showed up here.

[ Too heated to slow down and think, he's more inclined to believe Fireheart's side over Flowey's, particularly when he has little stake in Cheri's politics anyway. There's even some vindication in hearing him say he's right about the whole pearl thing, but— ]

... What the hell is he talking about? [ His nose scrunches as he slowly looks over at the Litten. ] Some of you don't have a roof?

[Fireheart telling him to shut up feels like a smack across the face. Not like he doesn't deserve it, but still!

But the next part really pisses him off.]

You REALLY think this is about 'supporting the Pokemon that earn it'? You ACTUALLY think this is about him not putting me on a pedestal for no reason?

You're both so dumb that I could laugh.

I've been working tirelessly since the moment I got here. And do you know why? To force that stupid insect to acknowledge me. All because I could tell what he was, deep down, and I was going to prove it. So I've thrown myself into quest after quest, winding up in this stupid clinic again and again. And, golly, you know what? It's paid off! I nearly have more points than both of you furry freaks combined! Don't TALK to me about not earning it.

But there's just one little teensy-weensy strange thing. Not a single peep from Ribombee. No roof. No thanks. NOTHING!

[He takes a breath to recover from all his shouting.]

Oh, but you know who showed up? A stupid wannabe TV host bug who didn't have a point to his name! In fact, I bet doesn't have more than 100 right now. But suddenly, Ribombee dropped everything to PERSONALLY escort him to his new luxury dwelling WITH a roof and all the furnishings!

[Nurse Chansey, who looks like she's aged over a year in the last 15 minutes, begins preparing a mix of chamomile and other assorted sedatives to give to Flowey.]

If you still don't see it, you're only fooling yourselves. Hate me all you want. You're just mad I'm speaking the truth.

[ Oh. Hm. Hmmmm.

They had wondered, to their tea doordasher, what it was Flowey was trying to prove, and half kill himself doing so.

This monologue may or may not be embellished for dramatics, but ... Hm. They were aware of Flowey's suspicions, but this does a lot of contextualize them.

Perhaps they might try to look into things on their own when they can. ]

[Fireheart sits back while Flowey talks, lashing his tail aggressively and letting his hackles rise. They... look very silly on a Litten, since they're only in the very middle of his back.]

Stop calling me dumb if you want me to listen to you, you sound like a kitten.

[But... right, he should explain this to Bigby, at least.]

The lower-ranked nests in the Canopy don't have a roof. Or they didn't - Ribombee and Flowey have been helping make sure everyone gets one. And they are both helping. Ribombee gave Laios, Tenna and I support, he's just.. busy.

[He hasn't actually met Tenna yet, but he must have earned the spotlight, right? And Laios definitely has, that's Fireheart's darling apprentice! They're both working hard all the time, even if they're not at the very top.]

Maybe Ribombee just knows you're trying to pin him for something, Flowey, have you thought about that? You're a huge, mouse-brained jerk, I bet he can tell.

[.....

Fireheart actually feels very bad for saying that, but it's already out of his mouth. So he's just flashing Flowey a slightly panicked look. Wait wait wait he didn't mean that.]

[ Bigby is somehow entirely silent through all of that. Teeth clenched, arms folded, he can't believe what he's hearing from both of them.

If Flowey wasn't such a whiny brat about the whole thing, maybe Bigby might reconsider what he has to say. Leave it to the crybaby to go woe-is-me with his monologue. He rolls his eyes at Fireheart too before stepping closer toward the Sunkern, the whole reason he's even here in the first place. ]

So your master plan was to work yourself to death to prove a point. Great job, kid. Point proven. Now what? Gonna tear down the establishment? Lock Ribombee up and throw away the key? Who's going to take his place? You, right? Because you'll be the hero of this story, and everyone loves a hero. This time, everything is going to be different, all thanks to you.

[ He scoffs with fangs bared. ]

Think about the consequences for once, kid. Think about how your actions effect other people. This isn't some game. This isn't a fairy tale. You really want to die just to be right? You really want to take the fall when shit inevitably goes sideways? Because trust me, I know how that goes.

Edited (i can't keep getting away with typos i'm sorry to all of your inboxes) 2025-11-05 16:42 (UTC)

And don't tell me this isn't about getting some kind of validation either. You try so fucking hard to get on everyone's nerves, but I remember when we first met. I remember you crying over disappointing him.

[ He finally looks over at Fireheart with a snarl. ]

Don't think I'm letting you off easy either with the bullshit happening in Cheri. Oh, and this.

[ He motions at the Double Kick marks on his face. Thanks, by the way! ]

I mean, you? You're seriously defending that? Busy my ass, Fireheart. You don't need to earn a roof. It shouldn't have taken until Flowey showed up to get that fixed. What the hell is wrong with you?

And here I thought the open ceilings of the Cheri Berry housing might have been an intended feature, if perhaps a little ill thought through, and not a flaw of unequal privileges. It would make sense, would it not, for types so connected with the environment to therefore be able to bask in it...? For the scouts of this region to be aware of their surroundings, and quickly take to them if necessary...?

[ Their tone is wondering, thoughtful, as Nurse Chansey's up until now scarce helper comes back into the visible spectrum and drifts down from the ceiling in lazy, wandering spirals. They let that hang there for a moment, though, because apparently we all haven't had enough of monologuing yet.

(They are not a fan of making their presence known in front of this many eyes, but there's nothing for it. This has escalated quite a bit from what it was, hasn't it? They are going to try to step in before Flowey has a chance to make this even worse.) ]

How interesting to hear that this is not the case.

[ The Yamask shakes their head a little, ruefully, though that might just be a consequence of the way the corner markings of the species's eyes all tend to make them look a little tearful. The eye they turn on Fireheart is quizzical, in truth. ]

You are ... incredibly naive, and I must applaud the life you must have lived up until now to get to this point without that being affected. To my understanding... By all accounts, the Pokemon here have been here for a while, even if they have not been forging much into the unknown before us. Correct?

In that case, there has been plenty of time to address this matter, if it is merely just something that had fallen by the wayside. I am certain that all the guildsmasters have been busy, yes. But if Ribombee has been too busy to attend to a matter of genuine physical safety for, say, a fire-type who faces the risk of very real harm, even death, should their flame ever be extinguished by something like the rain, then one has to wonder at his priorities. Does he truly not have anyone he might delegate to?

[ Obviously he does, if he put forth Lurantis. So the fact that the roofs were an issue at all...?

That all said, they are going to glance down at Flowey next. ]

... You, on the other hand. You have been accustomed to the circumstances of the Underground for too long. You think you are above consequences. That either they will not come for you, or that you will be able to escape them when they do. You are reckless and impulsive and half-dead in a hospital bed, all because you have gotten used to the comfort of having a safety net, and haven't yet unlearned it.

Tell me I am wrong.

[Great, now the kid with the luxury apartment wants to preach to us.

Being called a 'mouse-brained jerk' only stings a little bit. He's been called much worse, and Fireheart clearly regretted it. Fireheart is right that he should stop calling them stupid if he wants to prove a point, but it's hard when they're being so... stupid.

And then the split personality hamster decides to chime in. He's right, to an extent. Nobody else has the capacity to replace Ribombee. Despite the fact that Flowey thought about running for mayor of Skull Town, he's more of a 'watch from the sidelines and occasionally throw fuel on the fire' type of guy. And once or twice, Flowey did see that Ribombee seems to genuinely care about Bottlecap Bay. ... He's just really shady, too.

And finally, Chara echoes one of Bigby's points: Flowey is not above consequences. He can't keep doing this. He's going to die eventually if he keeps doing this, and he's going to die without having beaten Ribombee. That's the worst part of it all. Flowey knows they're right.

(And that same quiet, rational part of his mind thinks maybe the way to beat Ribombee is through talking with other guild members like this. His attempts to unionize the Cheri Berry guild members didn't go so well, he had settled on his fate to deal with it alone-- maybe pushing him to go to Icefall Lake. But now, here they are.)

All this goes rapidly through his mind as he sits there, still half-tangled in blankets and exhausted. The rational part of his mind makes sense. But he's still mad. And there's one point he HAS to contest.]

I was NOT crying. I was trying to leave this miserable town and avoid all this. Since I can't care about anyone, I'm always going to make things worse. You've made this very clear, so thank you, my attempted murderer.

[He still thinks he should've left. ... But then he wouldn't have reunited with Chara, would he? Has he made things worse with them, too?

... He's too tired to think about this.]

In case you haven't noticed, I'm a damn seed. I don't mind the sunlight or the rain that came from the lack of roof. It's the principle of the thing. Being treated as lesser on a whim. [It's karma, really. He deserves this. He treated everyone around him as nonsentient beings for longer than he could count. He should've just put up with it.] I noticed the minute I got recruited to the Cheri Berries, before I started trying to 'pin something' on Ribombee like a mouse-brained jerk.

... But you know what? I don't care anymore. I don't even like Umbreon. I just hate Lurantis more. Vote for whoever you want. Kiss Ribombee's boots all you want. I'll be more careful. Just leave me alone. I'm sick of this. I wish I never got brought here.

[Oh StarClan, what now?

Fireheart was silent while Bigby was chewing into Flowey, but he bristles a little more when that anger is turned on him. Which... Bigby has a point about the Cheri roof situation, it should have been fixed years ago, but he can at least cling to the easier thing to argue against.]

You were attacking one of my guild-mates, was I supposed to just let you?

[He doesn't really engage in tribalism very often, but... it's not like it's been discouraged. He takes quests with everyone, but he shares his meals with Cheri and sleeps next to them at night, so he still considers himself a Cheri Berry before anything else.

And then... Chara is coming in, who Fireheart doesn't actually know but he feels like he'd be derailing things a lot more by asking. They seem to know Flowey, that's the important part. That, and... another Pokemon is calling him naive.]

I'm not naive, I'm...

[...

.........

He doesn't know what he is. Something better and cooler than a naive kitten, he's an adult Litten who's always been a friendly and lovable hero. No one dislikes him except for the Pokemon in this room, so he must be doing something right.]

I've been here longer than all of you. I've known Ribombee the longest out of everyone here, too. If something was up with him I would have noticed, because I'm not stupid, he's just busy. That's why I've been trying to help him out whenever I can, and it's why Flowey should be happy to take on the extra work getting the roofs sorted out. He can't be everywhere at once.

Oh, that's what you want to focus on. [ Of course Fireheart blows over the actual problem. ] I just scared him. But sure, kick my head in for it. Asshole.

[ His fur is bristling all over as he's talking, only for his eyes to suddenly go wide at... someone else. ]

Who the fuck—?

[ He's suddenly glancing between Fireheart and Flowey before eventually turning to Chansey. She simply wobbles her hand back, focused on tea of another kind. All Bigby can do is growl under his breath as this ghost pulls out the entire dictionary to get their point across.

He still doesn't know who this is, but they sure know who Flowey is by the sound of it. Cautiously, Bigby watches them as they float downward, annoyed ear flicks slowly giving way to a curious head tilt. Wordy, but accurate. It captures all the things he'd been thinking anyway.

He continues to stay silent, even when Flowey finally starts to call him out. Briefly, his expression wavers, ears drooping in betrayal of his own emotions. Always going to make things worse. A line he's heard time and time again. ]

Flowey, that's not...

[ The Sunkern talks over him. He doesn't try to stop it. The kid has his points too. A frustrated sigh escapes him as he rubs his face. This is quickly spiraling, only for Fireheart to add that revelation on top of it. ]

You can't be fucking serious pulling that shit. I knew it. I was fucking right about you. Trying to play king of the jungle when you don't know shit about living out in the wild. At least Flowey has an excuse. You're not a damn kitten anymore.

[ The Yamask ... glances at Nurse Chansey first, actually. Oops. Well. This has gotten even further out of hand, hasn't it. They made an attempt?

Still...

He's lying to himself, they think, simultaneously noting down the apparent history with the hamster here. Not being able to care. He cares enough to be upset, if nothing else. But calling him out on it here seems counterproductive, so they will not. Instead. ]

... if knowing someone for long enough is the measure of wisdom we're using, then in some ways Flowey must be quite wise indeed. [ This is not exactly a compliment. But they won't elaborate, Flowey's secrets not theirs to share, so whatever conclusions the others might come to from that are not their problem. ]

I am not Flowey. I did not actually ascribe any malice to Ribombee. [ Even if the uneven handling of the Cheri Berries is pretty suspicious, and Flowey has a point. ] He may very well just be busy. That said ... being too busy to attend to matters of health, like the example I gave?

One does not have to be malicious to have been negligent.

Edited (actually i forgot to put back in something from my original draft) 2025-11-07 04:58 (UTC)

Bold of you to try and pull seniority after I already established I'm higher rank than you, Fireheart. But you ARE one of Ribombee's chosen few, so I guess we should all absolutely take YOUR opinion into consideration.

And as for you, Bigby. [He spits out the name with much more actual venom than he called him 'grandpa' or other pejoratives.] If you're going to try to kill me, at least have the spine to own it. Were you 'just scaring me' when you had a death grip on me, chewing on my leaves? But sure, keep whining about a kick.

'Kill or be killed'. My friend here would phrase it more eloquently like: "all they who live by the sword will die by the sword." It takes a killer to know one, and trust me-- [He levels him with a piercing- but almost pitying- stare.] -- I know you.

[He just gives Chara a side-eye at the backhanded compliment about him being wise. He doesn't feel like elaborating anymore. Not to this group. Not now.]

They have a point. This will be rich coming from me, but lately, I haven't gotten the feeling that Ribombee is actively malicious. Just VERY negligent of anyone he doesn't choose as a favorite.

[Fireheart's fur is puffing up by the time that Bigby is done talking. It makes it difficult to listen to Chara and Flowey when his instincts are screaming to claw Bigby's face up again, but- no, wait, Chara is making a good point.

His tail is lashing, but he bites his tongue on whatever regrettable thing he was about to say and listens. It is easier to accept Ribombee being negligent, or at least terribly overstretched. Fireheart likes to think he's helping, and that Flowey is helping, but that doesn't erase the fact that yes, the Canopy housing was nowhere near winter-ready for years before they all showed up.

Probably something to talk to Ribombee about. Although he has no idea when they'll both have time for that.]

Still... we shouldn't be talking about our leader behind his back.

[It's a weak argument, and he knows it. And combined with his frustration at having his attempt to pull rank be fully deflected, he's starting to realize he's doing no one any favors by continuing to be here.]

Ugh... Flowey, you're welcome for saving you. And Bigby, I'm not sorry for kicking you. Eat dirt.

[He pauses for a moment, glancing at Chara and flicking an ear in a gesture that roughly translates to I don't know what to say to you. They've given him a lot to think about, but... also, introductions feel out of place at the moment.

He's just going to storm off.]

[ Death grip, Flowey says. He quietly scoffs in response, and yet: ] ... Your leaves look plenty fine to me.

[ Just nips, he thought, like how his mother would whenever her cubs got so bold. How the hell was he supposed to know an overgrown seed could be that weak and defenseless. His scowl deepens, turning his attention to the easier target for him instead.

Bigby can feel his anger fully start to boil over the longer he stares the Litten down. His nose scrunches, lips curling back into a snarl. There’s plenty of words swirling in his mind, all of them derogatory, but what manages to come out is a low hiss in response. He knows what Fireheart must be thinking with all that tail whipping, and honestly, a part of him wants the other to go through with it. Despite his promise to Shoka to stop fighting, he can't fucking take this anymore from a house cat.

Electricity begins to build in his cheeks, only for Fireheart to storm off altogether. Immediately, he lets out a growl in frustration, rubbing his face as he stomps the ground. It's not quite a Stomping Tantrum, but there's definitely some unfocused power behind it.

Finally, he drops his paws, immediately turning to Flowey with eyes blood red all over again. ]

Fine, you want me to own it? If I wanted to eat you, you would’ve been gone before any of these people bothered to show up. [ His voice runs cold. There’s no threat, merely a statement of fact. ] Every time, there’s always someone out to get you. Ribombee. Fireheart. Me.

[ His eyes narrow down at Flowey’s stare. There’s something else behind them now, something entirely inhuman.

Then, he smiles, voice starting off in a sing-song mockery of Flowey's own. It's not as good as the Sunkern's impression of him, but it doesn't have to be. ]

But you asked me to kill you, remember? Make it hurt, you said. You deserve it. But my, weren't you just so scared, when you thought I finally came to collect.

[ Wise beyond his years. The boy who couldn’t grow up. It’s not hard to pick up on. The grin drops. He shakes his head in scorn. ]

That’d make things a whole lot easier, wouldn’t it? I mean, there’s plenty of other quests to prove your point. And still, you keep throwing yourself off cliffs hoping one day you might not make it back up. Because whatever you deserve, it’s not this second chance, is it?

[ No way this kid killed anyone, he thought once. Even a crybaby has their day. He can't help but laugh. ]

No, the worst thing I could do is let you face your fears for once, instead of being coddled by everyone else in this fucking place. So go ahead. Keep talking up your points all you want. I know you too. But at least I’m not the one always trying to run away.

[ His head slowly turns toward the ghost. How long have they been hovering around actually? ]

As for matters of health, maybe a friend ought to attend to a friend more often. Wouldn’t want to be negligent. How long were you going to wait, until finally speaking up for your pal Flowey?

[ They blink, slowly, deliberately. What a thing to say when they've been metaphorically running all over the clinic today.

(There's a lot there that they take note of. A lot of what he says about and sees in Flowey—

but this is hardly the time to address any of it.) ]

Do you suggest that I am his keeper? Or that I would be automatically inclined to take his side in all confrontations, including the one he instigated himself?

[ Who is this Morpeko, anyway? ]

I believe in consequences appropriate for the circumstances, and it is not as if Flowey cannot speak for himself. You are correct,
though. Perhaps I should have stepped in sooner, especially had you truly been intending to eat him. Were you, in a place like this?

[That rage gives way to a strange, simmering calm. He smiles sweetly.]

Are you really going to call me 'coddled' and then mock them for not showing up sooner to save me? You're mad because you're alone and it shows. You growl and snarl like a feral animal who's never been loved and would bite off the hand of anyone who tried.

Golly! Do you feel better now that you have all that out of your system? You sure taught me a lesson. You're completely right! I'm nothing but a pathetic, sad child who died a horrible death and wishes he never came back. You got me. A pitiful coward who cries and whines and tries running away when it gets too scary. [Unlike when they first met, he's not speaking from barely-restrained misery and parasuicidality. He maintains this strange calmness as he speaks.] You've just figured it all out. Well done.

video, at the end of october

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still not here (aka in the ceiling):

(1/2) my turn

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apparently we are making this worse

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oops! all introspection

silence remains a valid option!